Artist Antonius celebrates the birthdays of residents of retirement homes

Behind a screen, Antonius (*) celebrates, Saturday, May 2, the birthday of a resident of the Korian Hospital Establishment for the Elderly Dependent (Ehpad) of the Parc des Dames in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, recently bruised by the Covid-19.

Live … via the screen of a tablet

With confinement, this street artist has turned into a volunteer singer in the service of isolated people in retirement homes. “I am on 57 anniversaries celebrated in recent weeks. I like to bring a little happiness to the seniors and I have good feedback from them, ”says this nice fellow who, until the end of May, decided to continue this generous action on a voluntary basis in establishments of the three departments where he works: Yvelines, Val-d’Oise and Hauts-de-Seine.

This is not his first attempt at the Parc des Dames. Monday April 27, around 3:30 p.m., here it is live, via the screen of a tablet, in Lucette’s room. This last celebration this day its 81 spring. Behind the octogenarian, Magali, the host responsible for the social life of the establishment, duly masked and gloved, ensures the smooth running of the little show. “Today is a special day for you?” Asked Antonius. Intimidated, Lucette does not answer but repeats after him “Happy Birthday” while our “bringer of happiness” sings and unrolls the air on his barrel organ. Lucette devours the sequence with her eyes.

“Okay, now let’s sing the song you chose together. In the headlines, in the two, in the three. We resume after me, ”he slips. And launch the stainless “Champs-Elysées” by Joe Dassin. Troubled but encouraged by Magali, Lucette lets herself be carried away and ends up humming the famous song. A breath of joy runs through the room. A short round of applause, including that of Antonius, concluded this short session which lasted 6 to 7 minutes.

Breath from the outside and instant happiness for residents

When hot, Lucette is a little “stirred”. “It’s not often that this kind of surprise happens,” she mumbles before admitting a little “upset”. “I am very moved but Champs Elysées, I liked this song very much”, adds the octogenarian before taking refuge in his silence.

A few moments later, Magali comments on this little moment of spectacle. “Antonius’ performance brings breath from outside and, more often than not, instant happiness for our residents. They are happy and sometimes say so. It is not known if this affects their health. It is quite difficult to say but it is a good way to maintain their good cognitive health, especially at this time “analyzes Magali who, during confinement, works with a team of five people from the establishment (physiotherapists, psychomotor therapist, psychologists) with residents.

“Balcony concerts” in the gardens of the establishments

The formula pleases. As the street shows were suspended, Antonius was also called upon by retirement homes for “balcony concerts”. In this formula, it is placed in the garden or the courtyard of the establishment to play while the residents look from their window or their balcony. “Don’t believe these are sad moments. I adapt my repertoire but I am often asked for Johnny Hallyday, ”he specifies.

Originally from Saint-Germain-en-Laye, this fifties with a little overweight has lived there for 30 years. He has been singing there for fifteen years and cultivating his look. Flanked by his barrel organ, dressed in his black frock coat, his frilled shirt, wearing a three-cornered hat and red varnished Doc Martens, Antonius is out of the ordinary. His appearances on the market, but also at the Estival or during events such as the departure from Paris-Nice in 2019, or even private or corporate parties, make him a well-known figure in the royal city.

He also invented Barba’Ok to sing karaoke

In addition to his barrel organ and his 27 wooden flutes, our man, who seeks to dust off the old-fashioned image of street singers, invented the Barbar’Ok, a pretty all-wood instrument, created by the craftsman of art Saint-German Norbert Lefebvre. This allows anyone who wishes to sing in his suite in karaoke via the lyrics visible on a screen. And as his repertoire ranges from Berthe Silva to ACDC via The Beatles or Serge Gainsbourg, the possibilities are endless to accompany him in song.